ARMED police are out on patrol around Dorset and Hampshire with the national threat level now set at ‘critical’.

Earlier this week, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Manchester which claimed 22 lives, Dorset Police said firearms officers would be carrying out ‘overt patrols’.

Hampshire Constabulary also sent armed officers out into the streets, and they were seen patrolling transport hubs around Southampton in- cluding cruise ship terminals at the docks, the airport and West Quay shopping centre.

Dorset Police has declined to reveal where its armed officers have been patrolling for security reasons.

Also earlier this week it was revealed that police are aware of a number of Dorset residents who have travelled to Syria and have potentially become radicalised.

The force works alongside Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire constabularies to tackle the particular threats of terrorism in the south west, a partnership dubbed the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit (CTIUSW).

It was set up by the chief constables and police and crime commissioners (PCC) of the five areas in May 2013.

This body, alongside 10 other regional groups around the UK, reports to the National Counter Terrorism Policing headquarters and operations centre, which co-ordinates intelligence gathering and operations with the Security Service, MI5.

According to the National Police Chief ’s Council, the remit of the CTIUSW is to “gather intelligence and evi- dence to help prevent, disrupt and prosecute terrorists and terrorist activities”.

It says: “Each CTU provides coordination and specialist support and has a wide range of expertise including skilled detectives, financial investigators, analysts, forensic specialists and high-tech investigators.”

While the deployment of armed police patrols in Dorset is not said to be a response to a specific threat, the South West has been targeted by terrorists before.

In May 2008 convert to Islam Nicky Reilly, 30, attempted to detonate home made bombs consisting of glass bottles filled with nails in the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter, a case investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Reilly, who had a history of mental health problems, was the only person injured in the blast and the following year he was jailed for life for terrorism offences.

He died in prison in October last year and an inquest is under way.

Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill has warned the public to remain vigilant against the threat of ‘lone wolf ’ attacks, saying “people shouldn’t think that this county isn’t just as vulnerable as anywhere else”.